Tommy Doyle can show there isn't only one way into the Man City first team

Generally speaking, when Manchester City loan a young player out the chances are they will never become a regular first-team player.

The incredible rise of Phil Foden over the last five years create a blueprint for other youngsters to follow, and now Cole Palmer appears to be following the same path.

The idea is that City and Pep Guardiola would rather keep their most talented youngsters close to hand, training with the first-team players in order to get used to the club's high standards and the rhythms and movements of Pep's City. They would simply not get that opportunity if they went out on loan.

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However, this summer things have been a little different. James McAtee and Liam Delap are extremely highly rated by City - both were handed new long-term contracts in the past 12 months - but both embarked on loan spells this summer as it was decided that their development would benefit from regular first-team football, something Guardiola just could not offer them.

Delap went to Stoke City and McAtee joined Sheffield United, but it's fair to say that neither have enjoyed ideal starts to the season. Delap has failed to score in four appearances for the Potters, who are struggling near the bottom of the Championship. Sheffield United top the table, but McAtee has largely had to make do with a substitute role.

In fact, its another City youngster who is impressing at Sheffield United and looks most like proving that players can return to City and succeed after time spent away.

Tommy Doyle spent last season on loan at Hamburg and then Cardiff City, so another loan move this summer suggested that he is never going to be in City's plans.